Karonga mob nearly kills ‘witch’, vanquishes house

A 69-year-old man in Karonga, Malawi’s northern region border district, almost died after an angry mob rained terror on him and completely destroyed his house on suspicion that he practices witchcraft.

Malawi is one of the world’s poorest nations, and belief in witchcraft is widespread.

Wilfred Kapetapeta Kailisi was on rescued after police came in, according to Karonga police deputy spokesperson, George Mlewa.

Mlewa told Nyasa Times that the mob occurred Tuesday in Mwanjabala village of the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Kyungu.

“The mob completely destroyed the house of the victim,” said Mlewa.

According to the police publicist, the community is accusing the victim of killing his best friend, Kaomba Mwenenjaba, through magic.

“It follows the death of Kaomba Mwenenjaba, a friend to the victim. The community believed that the death was unnatural and that the victim was behind it,” he said.

After hearing about the mob, police officers rushed to the scene and rescue the victim.

Upon people seeing the officers the mob started stoning them, but the victim was nevertheless rescued.

Kapetapeta was taken to Karonga District Hospital for treatment as police investigation are still underway.

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Having read the story I am appalled with Nyasa Time’s inclination to describing Malawi as one of the poorest….The Byline on the victim/survivor is wrong! Poor journalism. You are planting wrong psychology in the citizenry….kumaliuza dziko lonse lapansi kuti Malawi is the poorest nation in the world? Poor journalism is responsible for the country’s poor image…How do you expect the young generation to have confidence and assertiveness with this kind of image? Wake up nyasatimes…what kind of national branding is this?

My fellow malawians lets leave everything in the hands of God. If someone is accused of practising witchcraft let the Lord our God judge not us! let’s stop this evil act! Just imagine if it was your grand father or mother being beaten how would you feel!!! GOD PLEASE INTERVENE! I CONDEM THIS ACT